MCC History

1970 - February 15, 1970, first basic education class of Morgan County Community College held in basement of 300 Main St, in Fort Morgan. Susan Cribelli hired as first MCC instructor.

1972 - Greater Gifts scholarship program initiated. First commencement includes five associate of art degrees, four one-year certificates, and 29 Waivered Licensed Practical Nurse certificates.

1973 - College joins the state system and is renamed Morgan Community College.

1976 - MCC becomes the target of political maneuvering meant to force its closing. An investigation shows outstanding records and performance in every department and the college survives.

1977 - Dr. Robert W. Johnson resigns; Robert Datteri becomes second MCC President.

1978 - Phi Beta Lambda, national business fraternity wins eight first place awards and chapter of the year at the Colorado State Leadership Conference and then is named National PBL Chapter of the year. Betty Smith of Burlington graduates; Smith is the first student to earn a degree without setting foot on the main campus at MCC. August 1978, groundbreaking ceremonies take place at permanent site on Barlow Road.

1979 - "Art in Public Places" program commissions artist John Young to render exterior sculpture, "The Victory of Olaf M" on the west lawn of Cottonwood Hall.

1980 - Faculty and staff move to permanent campus located on Barlow Road just south of I-76.

1982 - Dr. Larry Carter becomes MCC President. H.B. Bloedorn and Helen Williams are honored at first Founders’ Day event. Alternative High School established. "Learning at a Distance" technology developed.

1987 - Dr. Harold Deselms assumes fourth MCC presidency. First coordinator of student activities hired, and the modular classroom building is redesigned to serve as the student center. Community Access Cable network, MCC Channel 10 adds to methods of class l

1988 - Bennett, Wray, Burlington, Woodlin, Seibert, and Hugo high schools hold MCC courses delivered by television or Op-Tel.

1989 - First "distance learner", Barbara Kershaw of Wray, graduates. Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Fraternity, chartered.

1990 - Associate Degree in Nursing approved. MCC’s Small Business Development Center helps administer disaster relief funds to the victims of a tornado in Limon.

1991 - Dr. Richard Bond takes the reins as fifth President at MCC.

1992 - MCC signs an agreement for an exchange program with Yamagata Prefectural College of Agriculture in Yamagata, Japan. MCC is granted an unconditional re-accreditation by North Central Association.

1996 - Dr. John McKay becomes sixth President of MCC. Expansion of Learning Resource Center (now called Learning Commons) begins.

1999 - Groundbreaking for Student Center; furnishings provided by the Jack Petteys Memorial Foundation of Brush as a memorial to Anna C. Petteys.

2000 - MCC serves seven counties in Eastern Colorado Morgan, Washington, Yuma, Lincoln, Kit Carson, Adams and Arapahoe. More than 3,000 students enroll each year, and more than 330 instructors and staff are employed. Renovation begins for Aspen, Cottonwood, and Spruce Halls.

2001 - Ground is broken for the Automotive Technology building to be called Elm Hall.

2003 - MCC’s seventh President, Dr. C. Michele Haney, stabilizes the college after imposed state budget cuts and initiates new accreditation process. Wray Center moves to new building.

2004 - MCC offers 50 academic and vocation programs and has enrolled 16,000 students since summer semester of 1987. The college service area includes 11,500 square miles of eastern Colorado with regional centers in Bennett, Burlington, Limon, Wray, and Yuma. Nursing program expands to 83 students.

2005 - MCC is one of four colleges in the state community college system to experience increased enrollment. Thirty-fifth Anniversary Celebrations includes Annual Gala and reunion for founders and first students. $2 million capital gifts campaign, "Dream Connections" is announced to Brush and Fort Morgan Chambers of Commerce and the businesspeople of Wiggins. Nursing program courses offered in Wray.

2006 - Burlington Center moves into the newly built Burlington Community Education Center. MCC achieves 1000 FTE.

2007 - MCC Foundation plans a new Adult Basic Education building to be built on the Fort Morgan Campus. MCC/Cargill Meat Solutions Workplace Education program receives national recognition.

2008 - Dr. Kerry Hart becomes the eighth college President. Leadership Academy graduates first class.

2009 - MCC Foundation funds a new building on campus, Cedar Hall, for Adult Basic Education, GED, and ESL. MCC Nursing Program received national accreditation by NLNAC. MCC Jazz Ensemble created.

2010 - 40th Anniversary of MCC. New nursing, health science and technology addition and renovation completed. MCC ranked one of America’s top 50 community colleges by the Washington Monthly.

2011 - Received endowed chair gift from the Williams Family Foundation for Radiologic Technology Coordinator. Established the MCC Center for Art and Community Enrichment. Received the Morgan County Economic Development Committee (MCEDC) Partnership Award. 

2012 - A record 100 Students completed their GED with ABE program this year. MCC received the highest quality climate survey ratings at the AQIP Accreditation Strategy Forum, and for the second year in a row was rated a "Great College to Work For" by The Chronicle of Higher Education.  

2013 - MCC named one of the Chronicle of Higher Education's "Great Colleges to Work For" for third consecutive year. El Pomar Foundation awarded MCC a $50,000 grant to implement the college's second entrepreneurial business plan class and competition. The Morgan County Economic Development Corporation presented MCC with the "2013 Investor of the Year Award."

2014 - Viaero Wireless donates $10,000, and the El Pomar Foundation grants $105,000 to support MCC's Business Partnership Program in addition to technology upgrades for the College. MCC Nursing program received national accreditation by ACEN. The Center for Arts and Community Enrichment hosts dedication ceremony for the Dahms-Talton Band Shell. MCC named "Great Colleges to Work For" for fourth year.

2015 - President Kerry Hart was named a Fort Morgan Chamber Star for his service to the community. MCC opens a new welding facility, Birch Hall, on the Fort Morgan campus. MCC named "Great Colleges to Work For" for fifth year. MCC's Center for Arts and Community Enrichment offered over twenty artistic and cultural events and produced a documentary on Glenn Miller's high school connection to Fort Morgan, and how this later influenced his famous big band sound.

2016 - MCC recognized for sixth year in a row as a "Great Colleges to Work For." Ranked #1 community college in Colorado, by WalletHub, published in the Denver Business Journal. Aviation Technology Program adopted. The college debuted its first documentary, "Glenn Miller: The Birthplace of His Music."

2017 - Dr. Curt Freed becomes the ninth president.

2018 - Morgan Community College obtains official Hispanic-Serving Institution status. MCC launches a Precision Agriculture program. For the eighth consecutive year, MCC is named a “Great College to Work For” by The Chronicle of Higher Education. MCC makes Bestcolleges.com’s 2018 “Best Colleges Colorado” list, ranking No. 2 among 15 community and technical colleges across the state. The State Board of Community Colleges and Occupational Education gives its approval for MCC to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. The Williams Family Foundation pledges $2,275,000 to fund an endowed faculty chair position for the BSN program.

2019 - MCC receives $300,000 grant from National Science Foundation to develop an Industrial Controls Technician Certificate. The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program receives full accreditation status from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) approved MCC’s request to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Morgan Community College receives $3.0 million U.S. Department of Education Title V Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) grant. MCC and the Fort Morgan Area Chamber of Commerce collaborate to create a Director of Community/Business Development and Fort Morgan Area Chamber of Commerce position. MCC hosts groundbreaking for Poplar Hall Agriculture Center for Innovation. WalletHub ranks MCC the 19th best community college in the country. The College is ranked No. 2 in the 2019 Real Work Matters (RWM)’s study of the Best Vocational and Trade Schools in Colorado. The Aspen Institute named Morgan Community College as a top 150 U.S. Community College, making MCC eligible for the 2021 Aspen Prize.

2020 - Morgan Community College (MCC) receives $614,418 grant from The Colorado Health Foundation to launch a Multicultural Entrepreneur Program. The first class of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students start in January. MCC celebrates its 50th anniversary with a variety of activities throughout the year. The Limon Center moves to an expanded location in the Ben’s Pharmacy building. MCC hosts dedication for Poplar Hall Agriculture Center for Innovation with students beginning fall classes in new facility.

2021 - Morgan Community College (MCC) receives $450,000 to launch Return to Earn Program. MCC Foundation holds 22nd Annual Gala in virtual format, adapting to COVID-19 pandemic. MCC restructures GED/ESL program to offer Hyflex (combined in-person and virtual class delivery) and virtual formats. The College receives $4.7 Million a Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Program Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) grant to improve and expand the capacity to serve Hispanic and low-income students. MCC receives $1.1 million Talent Pipeline grant to construct a building for the growing Industrial Electrical/Mechanical Maintenance (IEMM) program. MCC was approved accreditation fall 2021 for its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program. The first graduating class, May 2021, are considered to have graduated from an accredited program.

2022 - MCC is ranked the #1 best trade school in Colorado by Bestvalueschools.org. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing approves MCC’s Associate Degree in Nursing program for continuing accreditation. The MCC Tutoring Center receives certification from the College Reading & Learning Association. The college is awarded a state Adult Education and Literacy Act grant to support MCC’s adult education program. A “Weekend College” track is launched. MCC’s participation in a Rural College Consortium expands course availability to students. Four MCC Collision Repair Students medal at the State SkillsUSA competition, with three qualifying for nationals. The RN to BSN program grows to include students from NJC, OC, and LCC. CARE Forward Colorado provides funding to offer short-term health programs at no cost to students. MCC receives approval to build the Dahms-Talton Center for Skilled Trades and Technology.

2023 - MCC received $2.5 million from Dr. Alan and Polli Dahm and a $1.1 million Colorado Talent Pipeline grant to expand facilities for the Electromechanical Technology (ELMT) program. On December 14, MCC broke ground on the Dahms-Talton Center for Skilled Trades and Technology. MCC acquired property located at 300 Dexter Street in Wray, Colorado. The purchase will be the site of a new MCC Wray Center.